Page 16 - Elections

Lok Sabha polls: 'Political parties used caste, religion to garner votes'

As India waits with bated breath for the Lok Sabha poll results, political analysts say this year's election was "one of the most polarised" with parties using caste and religion to garner votes. While the BJP focused on integrating various backward castes under the Hindutva fold, the INDIA bloc tried to win over Other Backward Caste (OBC) voters by promising to conduct a caste survey if it is voted to power, they said. Jagdeep Chokar, the co-founder of the poll rights body Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), said this election was "one of the most polarised" he has ever witnessed. "There was polarisation along the lines of caste, religion and region. It was not like this before. Caste has always been one of the most important mobilising factors in elections, but here, both caste and religion-based politics were at play," he told PTI. Dr Iftekhar Ahmad Ansari, an associate professor at Aligarh Muslim University, pointed out that the realignment of castes has presented a ...

This is what the News18 exit poll predicts about BJP's gains across India

The News18 mega exit poll has predicted the BJP may secure between 305 and 315 seats, with a 40 per cent vote share, while the NDA is expected to win 355 to 370 seats with a 47 per cent vote share

Lok Sabha election results: BJP plans grand celebration with light show

After exit polls predicted a clear majority for the National Democratic Alliance, the event at Bharat Mandapam, themed around India's cultural heritage, may include a sound-and-light show

Here's what's next for South Africa, key figures in coalition talks

South Africa's election has decided little, other than the African National Congress that liberated the country from apartheid in 1994 has lost its 30-year majority. It remained the biggest party, though. With no one holding a majority, South Africa's party leaders are embarking on coalition talks to form a government. South Africa has never had to do this due to the ANC's long dominance. There are four major political parties and at least eight with significant shares of the vote after last week's election. It'll be complicated. Here's a guide to some of the key figures and what might be coming next as South Africa enters uncharted territory. PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA Once a protege of Nelson Mandela, Ramaphosa (71) has now overseen the worst election result in the ANC's history. He is under pressure within his own party as well as with voters but he managed to laugh when an official made a slip on Sunday and referred to him as the "extinguished" president rather than distinguish

S Africa's prez urges parties to find common ground after deadlock

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on Sunday for parties to overcome their differences and find "common ground" to form the first national coalition government in the country's young democracy. South Africa announced its final election results on Sunday, confirming that no party won a majority, and unprecedented coalition talks were starting to find a way forward for Africa's most advanced economy. Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) had already lost its 30-year majority after more than 99 per cent of votes were counted by Saturday and showed it couldn't surpass 50 per cent. The ANC received around 40 per cent of the votes in last week's election in the final count, the largest share. Without a majority it will need to agree on a coalition with another party or parties for the first time to co-govern and reelect Ramaphosa for a second term. South Africa's national elections decide how many seats each party gets in Parliament and lawmakers elect the president ...

BRS candidate Naveen Reddy bags 762 votes, wins MLC bypoll in Telangana

The opposition BRS on Sunday won the bypoll to Telangana Legislative Council from Mahabubnagar Local Authorities' constituency. BRS candidate Naveen Kumar Reddy secured 762 votes, while Congress nominee M Jeevan Reddy got 653 votes. An independent candidate got one vote. The total number of valid votes polled in the by-election was 1,416. The victory in the by-poll came as a morale booster to the BRS after its shock defeat in the Legislative Assembly polls last year. The bypoll outcome is seen as a setback for ruling Congress as Mahabubnagar is the native district of CM A Revanth Reddy. The polling for the by-election was held on March 28. Though the counting of votes was supposed to be taken up on April 2, it was postponed to June 2 as the model code of conduct is in force for the Lok Sabha polls. The bypoll was necessitated due to the resignation of Kasireddy Narayana Reddy after he was elected as Congress MLA in the Legislative Assembly elections. Expressing happiness over

Exit polls predict major gains for BJP in Odisha, Bengal, southern India

Congress may see marginal improvement, while regional players could face setbacks, say exit polls

'INDIA' bloc will win over 295 Lok Sabha seats, says Kharge after Oppn meet

He said the opposition parties have sought time from the Election Commission on Sunday to raise their concerns and urge the poll body to address them

ANC loses 30-year majority in South Africa's landmark election

The African National Congress party lost its parliamentary majority in a historic election result Saturday that puts South Africa on a new political path for the first time since the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule 30 years ago. With more than 99% of votes counted, the once-dominant ANC had received just over 40% in Wednesday's election, well short of the majority it had held since the famed all-race vote of 1994 that ended apartheid and brought it to power under Nelson Mandela. The final results are still to be formally declared by the independent electoral commission that ran the election, but the ANC cannot pass 50%. At the start of the election, the commission said it would formally declare the results by Sunday, but that could come earlier. While opposition parties have hailed the result as a momentous breakthrough for a country struggling with deep poverty and inequality, the ANC remained the biggest party by some way. However, it will now likely need to loo

Lok Sabha polls phase 7: Over 58% voter turnout recorded till 5 pm

A voter turnout of 58.34 per cent was recorded till 5 pm on Saturday in the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha polls with incidents of violence between TMC and BJP supporters reported in Sandeshkhali region of West Bengal, and complaints of EVM glitches and rigging at some booths lodged. Polling is underway in seven states and the Union Territory of Chandigarh for 57 constituencies, including Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term in the Lok Sabha. Voting is being held amid a severe heatwave in all 13 seats of Punjab and four of Himachal Pradesh, 13 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, nine in West Bengal, eight in Bihar, six in Odisha and three in Jharkhand, besides Chandigarh. Polling for the remaining 42 assembly constituencies in Odisha and bypolls to six assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh are also taking place simultaneously. Saturday's voting will mark the end of the marathon polling process that began on April 1

Exit poll 2024: Date, time & where to watch Lok Sabha election exit polls?

Here's when and where to watch the Lok Sabha elections exit poll results 2024

Near China border, people at world's highest polling booth get inked today

It is the highest polling station in the world. And, despite all the odds, it has clocked 100 per cent voting in the past

Exit Poll Results 2024: Why do these sometimes turn out to be inaccurate?

While exit polls are watched widely and with great anticipation across the country, their accuracy has always been a topic of discussion

S Africa polls to end 3 decades of ANC dominance as votes slashed to 40%

The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), had 21.71 per cent and uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), a new party led by former president Jacob Zuma, managed to grab 14.76 per cent

'India runs power plants flat out to keep cool in heatwave, election'

The grid met record peak load of 246 mn kilowatts on May 29 and then 250 million kilowatts on May 30, shattering the previous record of 240 mn kilowatts set in September 2023, wrote John Kemp

13 poll personnel die in Mirzapur following fever, high BP, says hospital

Thirteen poll personnel deployed in Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur died at a hospital here following high fever and high blood pressure, its principal said on Friday. The exact reason for the deaths is being ascertained, he said. The deceased include seven home guard jawans, three sanitation workers, one clerk posted at the Chief Medical Officer's office, one chakbandi adhikaari (consolidation officer), and one peon in the home guard team, Dr Raj Bahadur Kamal, the principal of Maa Vindhyavasini Autonomous State Medical College, told PTI. They had high grade fever and high blood pressure when they were brought to the facility, he said. The region has been witnessing unusually high temperatures for the past several days. Polling is scheduled to be held in Mirzapur on Saturday.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Who are the 6 candidates up against PM Modi in Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced significant competition, contending with 41 candidates in 2014 and 26 opponents in 2019. Currently, he is up against a field of six contenders

S Africa heads for 'coalition country' as partial results put ANC below 50%

South Africa was heading closer to the reality of a national coalition government for the first time Friday as partial election results put the ruling African Nation Congress well short of a majority. With more than half of votes counted across the country's nine provinces, the ANC had received just under 42% of the national vote, according to the early results as counting continued. That represented a huge drop from the 57.5% it received in the last national election in 2019, although the final results from Wednesday's election have not yet been declared. The commission that runs the election said those would be announced by Sunday, although they could come sooner. The count from more than 12,000 of the 23,000 polling stations raised the strong possibility that the ANC would need a coalition partner to form a government and reelect President Cyril Ramaphosa for a second and final term. The frenzied negotiations were likely set to start behind closed doors. The ANC was still leadin

INDIA bloc's June 1 meet to discuss preparations for counting day: Kharge

The INDIA bloc will hold an informal meeting Saturday only to discuss the preparations for the counting day on June 4 and how its leaders and workers need to stay alert, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said. He said Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has informed that she is busy with the polls that day and therefore, will not be able to attend. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here Thursday, Kharge said the meeting is being held for "our own sake" to train people and to give them information. "This is an informal meeting. In this, we will only discuss what kind of preparation we should have on the day of counting and how our people should be alert, whether it is about EVMs or the 17C form is used... Just for our own sake, we are holding this meeting to train our people and to give them information," he said. Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal also said the meeting is only for discussing about the counting preparations and the

Election jitters, rate uncertainty trigger mkt tailspin for 4th day

Elections, rate cut concerns keep investors rattled